Forecast today is for early showers, clearing, & fair weather for the rest of the day, so we have a slow start to the day, to let the rain pass by. In reality: a few fluffy white clouds, in a sunlight blue sky, all day long!

Drove to the Mount Aspiring Lookout - fantastic views across Lake Wanaka of the mountains - then past the turning to Lake Diamond Road, & some hills that were used in aerial shots in LotR. Then 20km of gravel road, across Cattle Flat, following the Matukituki River, passing fields of cows with sucking calves, bullocks, & sheep with lambs. After crossing half a dozen fords, we reached the (busy) car park & ate our packed lunch, then set off on the 3 to 4 hour walk up the Rob Roy Valley, to view the glacier.

Fantastic walk: initially across the valley floor, following the river, then across a swing bridge, & a steady climb through forest, to the first rest bench, & a family photo, courtesy of a couple of fellow hikers. Onwards & upwards, on occasionally exposed track, past a couple of rock-fall areas, and a fantastic overhang! Great view of a waterfall, from the second rest bench, that was so high, a lot of it's water was getting blown away by the wind, and never reaching the ground! Then the final push to the summit (passing another loo with a view!) with fantastic 360˚ views of the mountains & glacier. M got "chased" by a Kea, who later obligingly posed for photos, & the kids had fun climbing on the rocks.

Then it was time to walk down to the car park, which (as always) seemed to take hardly any time at all. Quiet drive back to Wanaka, as everyone was tired! Back in town, D shopped for food, while L took kids to see if the library was open (it wasn't). Back to camp for "Mexican" bean stew, tortillas, dark choc & lime, & an early night.